Stilt



Jan. 1, 1963 P. T. WHEELER 3,070,807

STILT Filed March 9, 1959 INVEN TOR. PAUL/P T W/Vffl. E

F) 7 TOIPIVFK- 3,07%,897 STILT Philip 'I. Wheeler, Box 47, Oxford, Ohio Filed Mar. 9, 195?, Ser. No. 797,945 6 Claims. (Cl. 3-4) This invention relates to a stilt and to a method of fabricating stilts.

Stilts are known that heretofore generally have been relatively crude hand made devices that did not take into account certain basic engineering principles of balance and load distribution that would improve the ease of using the stilts and the ease of maintaining balance on the stilts and the utilization of the full strength of the material in which the stilt was constructed.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention pro poses a stilt designed and constructed so as to make full use of the strength of the material thereof, and at the same time making the stilt as convenient as possible to put on and remove and arranging the parts of the stilt so as to properly to locate the load carrying portions of the stilt relative to the load imposed on the stilt.

The present invention also proposes the provision of a stilt structure which is adjustable. Still further, it is proposed by this invention to construct a stilt in such a manner that it can easily and quickly be fabricated according to mass production techniques and while still arriving at a superior end product.

This invention further proposes a stilt construction equally well to both strap-on and hand-held types. In either case the stilt according to the present invention can be mass produced as opposed to being custom fabricated as has heretofore been done.

An object of this invention is to provide greater safety to the stilt wearer, particularly in connection with the strap-on type.

The exact nature of this invention will be more clearly understood upon reference to the following specification in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing one form of my novel stilt arrangement;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the stilt of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front view showing another form of the stilt;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional View indicated by line 4-4 on FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the foot support board in the FIGURES 3 and 4 modification;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view indicated by line 66 on FIGURE 4 showing one method of construction of the post beneath the foot support board;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view showing a manner in which a metallic foot support board could be incorporated in the FIGURES 1 and 2 structure to arrive at an all metallic stilt;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing a shouldered foot board that could be used with any of the modifications;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view showing how the upper portion of the stilt could be made adjustable;

FIGURE 10 is a view showing a blank which according to this invention could be fabricated whereby a one piece stilt could be arrived at; and

FIGURE 11 is a view of a hand-held stilt constructed according to my invention.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, and particularly FIGURES 1 and 2, the stilt shown therein comprises a lower member 10 which may be a rod or tube which may a rubber member at the lower end. Rod or tube 10 is provided with a plurality of apertures 14 for receiving bolts 16 which attach to the rod or tube 10. A

3,?,87 Federated Jan. I, 1963 pair of members 18 which are preferably in the form of tubing with flattened ends which may be made of sheet material formed to an arcuate or circular shape and with the end portions flattened. The lower end portions are curved to embrace rod or tube 10 so that when bolts 16 are passed therethrough and tightened up the members It and 18 are substantially rigidly interconnected.

At their upper ends member 13 embrace therebetween the ide parts of an upper member 2&9 adapted for extending along the front of the leg from the ankle to the knee. The upper portion of member 2% is preferably cupped as at 22 to provide a knee guard.

Member 20 is formed of a single piece arcuate in cross section and may comprise stifiening ribs as at 24. In the closed side of member 20 there is an arcuate cut out portion 26 for receiving the front part of the foot of the user.

A foot support board 28 is attached to the lower end of member 20 as by the screw 3i Member 20 may be slotted and may receive straps 32 and 34 which strap about the ankle and the upper part of the calf of the user. These straps are preferably a webbing, for example, 1" to 2" woven webbing with buckles and this forms a strong connector for attaching the stilt fixedly to a person's leg.

As will be seen the upper portion of the stilt is adjustable along lower member Ill by virtue of the holes 14 in member 19 and if desired the upper member of the stilt can also be made adjustable as illustrated in FIGURE 9 wherein the said member is made up of a lower portion 36 and an upper portion 38 slidable therein with there being clamp screw means 4% receivable through an aperture in one member and a slot 44 in the other member so that the two portions may be vertically adjusted thereby to accommodate the stilt to legs of different length.

In the FIGURES l and 2 construction the foot board is shown as a fiat member which may be of wood or reinforced plastic construction or the member could be a flanged metal plate. Another manner of utilizing a metal foot plate is shown in FIGURE 7 wherein foot plate 46 is attached by rivets 48 to tabs 50 turned inwardly along the side edges of the foot plate from the lower edge of member 20. The foot plate in FIGURE 7 may comprise a flanged nose part 52 which would add strength to the foot plate and also eliminate a relatively sharp exposed edge.

The flat foot board of FIGURES 1 and 2 when formed of wood or a reinforced plastic could be as constructed in FIGURE 8 wherein there is a heel recess 54 provided which would add to the comfort and stability of wearing the stilt by giving better support to the heel and sole portion of the foot.

This same recessed heel portion is indicated at 56 in FIGURE 7.

It is also possible to form the stilt from a single blank of metal or other suitable material as indicated in FIG- URE 10 wherein the blank is struck out so that the lower portion 68 can be rolled into a tubular bottom of leg member and the upper portions 62 can be formed into a U-shape to embrace the portion of the outer leg from the ankle upwardly and with there being a tab 64 struck out to form the foot bottom while simultaneously forming the aperture through which the front part of the foot extends.

The foot board could be braced either by the tabs 66 on the side of the stilt or the lower edge portions 68 of the portion 62 of the blank could be turned inwardly over the struck out tab and either welded, riveted or otherwise adhered thereto. The upper portion 62 could, of course, be pierced for receiving straps and any portion of the stilt, either the upper or lower portion or the struck out tab forming the foot board could be provided with stiff- 3 ening ribs formed therein as shown by numerals 24 in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Another substantially one-piece construction is illustrated in FIGURES 3 through 6 except that the arrangement shown therein is more particularly adapted to materials such as plastic reinforced with glass fibers or textile materials or to materials such as plastic bonded pulp or fiock.

Such a material has the advantage over metal in the forming thereof in that it is free of certain of the limitations of metal and can be formed to more complex contours with simple and more inexpensive techniques.

In FIGURES 3 through 6, the main portion of the stilt is formed of a reinforced plastic material with the bottom part 79 being substantially Ushaped in cross section as will be seen in FIGURE 6 and with the upper portion 72 that extends along the front part of the leg of the user also being substantially U-shaped in cross section.

These parts are integral with each other and in the lower end of portion 72 there is a foot receiving aperture 74. The extreme lower edges of portion 72 are formed inwardly as at 76 and join with the upper end of portion 70. This forms a ledge for supporting a foot board 78 which may be flat as indicated or which may comprise a heel recess as illustrated in FIGURE 8. The foot board, which may be of metal, wood, or reinforced plastic material may be attached in place as by screw if or by bolts extending completely through the foot board from side to side as in the case of reinforced plastic construction by case of suitable adhesions. The foot board is thus attached within the stilt structure rigidly and therein in such a manner that it readily transmits loads to the lower leg portion 70.

Leg portion 70 may be formed to a completely tubular configuration or the open side may be closed by a strength member 82 which may be of wood or leg portion 70 may be corrugated longitudinally to a degree suflicient for its load bearing requirements with an open side. This member may be attached to the edges of portions 79 as by screws 84, which as in the case of screws 80, may be in the form of through bolts extending completely through the member 82.

The stilt construction according to the present invention is relatively inexpensive to make and easy to put on and take off. It may be so attached to the leg that users hands and arms are free at all times. The leg extending downwardly from the foot board is so positioned that the weight on the foot board acts directly downwardly through the leg of the stilt so that a condition of substantial balance is maintained at all times. The stilt can readily be made adjustable or it can be of substantially one-piece construction.

The stilt structures described have been the type that clamp or strap to the users leg and this is a preferred arrangement for reasons of convenience, comfort and safety. It is also possible to embody the principles of the present invention in a hand-held stilt, and such an arrangement is diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE iii wherein the stilt structure comprises a leg portion 90 integral with an upper portion 92 with there being a foot board 94 at the junction of the elements, and the portion 92 that extends along the users leg is provided with an extension )6 provided with a slot 98 so that the stilt can be held by the hand. The hand graspable portion of the stilt could extend upwardly from the side if so desired, but as a matter of convenience in manufacture I prefer for this portion of the stilt to extend directly up from the top of the leg engaging portion.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a stilt a horizontal foot board, an upper portion substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section and concave toward the rear attached to the sides of the foot board and extending upwardly therefrom, said portion being cut out at the lower end to form an aperture to receive the toe end of a users foot resting on the foot board with the said portion embracing the front of the users leg from ankle to knee, the lower end of said portion being formed inwardly so as to engage the bottom of the footboard, means carried by said upper portion to hold the stilt fixed to the users leg, said stilt comprising a lower portion extending vertically downwardly from beneath the foot board in the region of the center thereof, said lower portion at its upper end being rigid with the lower end of said upper portion, said lower portion being formed so as to have substantial dimensions in both longitudinal and lateral directions in transverse cross section so as to be stiff against bending, said upper and lower portions being substantially aligned and being rigid with each other independently of said foot board.

2. In a stilt; a horizontal foot board, an upper portion substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section and concave toward the rear of the stilt attached to the sides of the foot board and extending upwardly th;refrom, said portion being cut out at the lower end to form an aperature to receive the toe end of a users foot resting on the foot board with the said portion embracing the front of the users leg from ankle to knee, straps carried by said upper portion to strap about the users leg, said stilt comprising a lower portion extend ing vertically downwardly from beneath the feet board in the region of the center thereof, said lower portion at its upper end being rigid with the lower end of said upper portion, said portions being rigid with each other independently of said foot board, there being a knee cup formed on the upper portion at the upper end thereof, said lower portIon being substantiaily U-shaped in cross section so as to be stiff against bending, and brace means extending supportingly between the ends of the legs of said U-shaped lower portion.

3. In a stilt; a horizontal foot board, an upper portion substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section and concave toward the rear attached to the sides of the foot bOItId and extending upwardly therefrom, said portion being cut out at the lower end to form an aperture to receive the toe end of a users foot resting on the foot board with the said portion embracing the front of the users leg from ankle to kn:e, straps carried by said upper portion to strap about the users leg. said sti't comprising a lower portion extending vertically downwardly from beneath the foot board in the region of the center thereof, said lower portion being rigidly attached to the lower end of said upper portion, sad upper and lower portions being formed of a single piece of reinforced plast'c material, said lower portion being U-shaped in cross section and a reinforcing block fixed between the ends of the legs of said U-shaped lower portion and extending f 0m brneath the foot board to the lower end of said lower portion.

4. In a stilt; a horizontal foot board, an upper portion substant'a'ly Ushaped in t'ansverse cro"s section and concave toward the rear attached to the sides rf the foot board and etxending upwardly therefrom, said portion being cut out at the lower end to form an aperture to receive the toe end of a users foot res'ing on the foot board with the said porton embracing the front of the users leg from ankle to knee, straps carried by said upper portion to strap about users leg, said stilt comprising a lower portion extending vertically downwardly from beneath the foot board in the region of the center thereof, said lower portion being rigidly attached to the lower end of said upper portion, said upper and lower portions being formed of a single piece of reinforced plastic material, said lower portion being U-shaped in cross section and tapering inwardly from top to bottom to a reduced size lower end, and a tapered reinforcing 5 block fixed between the ends of the leg of said U-shaped lower portion and extending from the foot board to the bottom of said lower portion.

5. In a stilt; an elongated unitary member substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section, an aperture in about the center of the member, a foot board set in the bottom of the aperture at right angles to the length of the member and fixed thereto, a reinforcing block fixed between the ends of the legs of the member beneath the foot board and extending from the foot board to the lower end of the member, and spaced leg straps carriedby the member above the foot board, said member being concave toward the rear.

6. In a stilt; an elongated unitary member substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section, an aperture in about the center of the member, a foot board set in the bottom of the aperture at right angles to the length of the member and fixed thereto, a reinforcing block fixed between the ends of the legs of the member beneath the foot board and extending from the foot board to the lower end of the member, spaced leg straps carried by the member above the foot board, said member being formed inwardly immediately beneath the foot board so as supportingly to engage the under side of the foot board and said member tapering inwardly toward the lower end beneath the foot board, said member being concave toward the rear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 241,226 Landis May 10, 1881 642,841 Freshour Feb. 6, 1900 2,832,079 Bailey Apr. 29, 1958 

1. IN A STILT: A HORIZONTAL FOOT BOARD, AN UPPER PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED IN TRANSVERSE CROSS SECTION AND CONCAVE TOWARD THE REAR ATTACHED TO THE SIDES OF THE FOOT BOARD AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID PORTION BEING CUT OUT AT THE LOWER END TO FORM AN APERTURE TO RECEIVE THE TOE END OF A USER''S FOOT RESTING ON THE FOOT BOARD WITH THE SAID PORTION EMBRACING THE FRONT OF THE BOARD WITH THE SAID PORTION EMBRACING THE FRONT OF THE USER''S LEG FROM ANKLE TO KNEE, THE LOWER END OF SAID PORTION BEING FORMED INWARDLY SO AS TO ENGAGE THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOTBOARD, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID UPPER PORTION TO HOLD THE STILT FIXED TO THE USER''S LEG, SAID STILT COMPRISING A LOWER PORTION EXTENDING VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY FROM BENEATH THE FOOT BOARD IN THE REGION OF THE CENTER THEREOF, SAID LOWER PORTION AT ITS UPPER END BEING RIGID WITH THE LOWER END OF SAID UPPER PORTION, SAID LOWER PORTION BEING FORMED SO AS TO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DIMENSION IN BOTH LON- 